The National Coordinator of the District Road Improvement Programme, Nii Lantey Vanderpuye, has urged former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta to submit himself to accountability, warning that attempts to evade scrutiny could have lasting consequences for him and his legacy.
Speaking on Breakfast Daily on Thursday, April 9, Mr Vanderpuye stressed that public officeholders owe a duty of transparency to the citizens who entrusted them with power and state resources.
“It is in his own interest, the interest of the party, and the family he belongs to, to subject himself to accountability,” he stated. “You were entrusted with a position by the people of Ghana, and as such, you must be accountable to them.”
Mr Vanderpuye criticised what he described as a growing tendency among politicians to avoid scrutiny, insisting that allegations of wrongdoing must be confronted rather than ignored.
According to him, responding to questions from the public is a fundamental obligation of leadership.
“If the people have identified infractions in how you discharged your duties, it is only proper to come forward and answer to them. I detest situations where politicians assume they owe no explanation. We were entrusted with positions and assets, and we must be ready to account for them,” he added.
He further cautioned that failure to do so could have far-reaching implications. “It is in his interest to come forward, because if he doesn’t and continues to stay away from accountability, it will follow him, his children, and generations,” he warned.
His comments come after Mr Ofori-Atta was released by immigration authorities after issues relating to his status in the US.
Despite this, he remains at the centre of multiple legal challenges, facing over 70 criminal charges tied to ongoing corruption investigations in Ghana.
The cases include allegations that a contract awarded to Strategic Mobilisation Limited resulted in a financial loss of more than GH¢1.4 billion to the state. The Government of Ghana in February 2026 submitted a formal extradition request to the United States, which authorities there have acknowledged.
The former minister, who served under the administration of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo from 2017 to early 2024, is also under investigation by the Office of the Special Prosecutor. The office, led by Kissi Agyebeng, initiated processes in June 2025 for an INTERPOL Red Notice after he failed to honour multiple invitations for questioning. The Red Notice was subsequently deleted by the INTERPOL.
Mr Ofori-Atta is currently seeking permanent residency in the United States as legal and diplomatic processes surrounding his case continue to unfold.
